Robert Bailey Connelly, 79

Capt. Robert

Bailey Connelly

U.S.N. (Ret.), 79, formerly of Jamestown, died July 13, 2010, in Silver Spring, Md. from complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 10, 1930, to then Lt. Bailey Connelly and Evelyn Coloney Connelly. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and married Elizabeth Ann Bayne the following November.

He served on the battleship Wisconsin (BB64) for two years before attending electronics school and submarine school in 1955. After two years on the USS Blackfin (SS 322), he had nuclear power training and reported to the USS Sargo (SSN 583), which made the first winter surfacing at the North Pole in February, 1960.

Subsequent sea duty was as commissioning engineer of the USS John Marshall (SSBN-611), commissioning executive officer of the USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN- 635) and commanding officer of the USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN- 630).

His first shore duty was at the Naval Submarine School as head of the Officer’s Training Dept. Subsequent duty included the staff of Commander Submarines U.S. Atlantic Fleet and finally, the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, from which he retired in 1977.

Capt. Connelly was employed by Purvis Systems, Inc. in Newport for several years. He was among the founding partners of the Newport Athletic Club, was a member of the Board of the Newport Armed Services YMCA, and a vestryman and member of Trinity Church in Newport.